Künker, Osnabrück
Auction 415
Osnabrück, 28 October 2024

Orders, Decorations and Medals from the Possession of the Wittelsbachs at Künker

Künker's upcoming auction of orders and decorations, which will be held in collaboration with Philipp Württemberg Art Advisory GmbH on 28 October 2024, contains a total of 631 lots. The sale goes beyond the scope of orders and decorations to also include many medals and even coins from the estates of Dr. Alexander Eugen Duke of Württemberg and Carl Theodor in Bavaria. You can look forward to very special numismatic and phaleristic rarities from the possessions of people who made history!

The Estate of Carl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria

There are historical figures whose life's work still fills us with awe today. One of them is Carl Theodor Duke in Bavaria, son of Max in Bavaria, and younger brother of the Austrian Empress "Sisi". He was a pioneer in Bavarian ophthalmology. After a life crisis, Carl Theodor decided to give up his military career to become a professional ophthalmologist. At that time, ophthalmology was making tremendous progress. With comparatively little effort, a good ophthalmologist could save a person's sight, thus preventing them from becoming a helpless cripple. After all, a life of begging was the only option for destitute blind people in the 19th century.

Together with his second wife, Maria José of Braganza, who assisted him as a surgical nurse, Carl Theodor worked at the district hospital in Tegernsee, ran an outpatient clinic in Meran for a time, and founded an eye clinic in Munich at his own expense, which still exists today.

As head of the House of Wittelsbach in Bavaria (not to be confused with the Wittelsbach dynasty of Bavaria), he witnessed many historical events himself and inherited the family memorabilia of his ancestors. His estate, which will be offered in Künker's auction 415, is of the utmost importance to Bavarian history.

Coin collectors in particular will be thrilled to see these iconic coins with verified provenance from the Wittelsbach estate. Among them are the histroy taler "Blessing of Heaven" (Segen des Himmels) from the possession of Max Joseph Duke in Bavaria, and a 3-mark commemorative coin "Golden Wedding Anniversary" (Goldene Hochzeit) from the estate of Carl Theodor's widow.

No. 285: Bavaria. Award medal for medical achievements on the occasion of the 70th birthday of Carl Theodor in Bavaria on 9 August 1909. 14-ducat gold medal by Alois Börsch. Only two specimens struck. From the estate of Maria José, Carl Theodor's wife. About FDC. Estimate: 5,000 euros

On the occasion of the 70th birthday of Duke Carl Theodor on 9 August 1909, his wife Maria José funded this award in gold and silver. In February 1910, one gold and two silver medals were struck. Later in the year, another gold and two silver medals were produced, as well as one silver specimen for the Bavarian State Collection in Munich.

No. 317: German Empire. 3 marks 1918 D commemorating the golden wedding anniversary of the Bavarian royal couple. From the estate of Maria José, Carl Theodor's wife. Very rare. Extremely fine to FDC. Estimate: 20,000 euros

Due to the shortage of silver caused by the war, only 130 pieces of the "Golden Wedding Anniversary" commemorative coin were minted, and King Ludwig III of Bavaria distributed a large portion of them as gifts. This is probably how this piece came into Maria José's possession. The coin is one of the most sought-after commemorative coins of the German Empire.

No. 322: Personal purse of Elector Carl Theodor of Bavaria (1724-1799). Estimate: 500 euros

No. 325: Honorary Sabre of the 3rd Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers on the occasion of Carl Theodor in Bavaria's golden jubilee of military service on 11 October 1903. Unique. Estimate: 10,000 euros

Even after retiring from his active military career, Carl Theodor remained an officer in the cavalry reserve. This meant that, despite his resignation from active service, he took part in the combat operations during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/1. The 3rd Royal Bavarian Chevau-légers, the regiment he commanded, presented him with the honorary sabre on the occasion of his golden jubilee of military service in 1903. Carl Theodor had joined the military at the age of 14 on 11 October 1853.

No. 355: Order of the Golden Fleece from the estate of Carl Theodor in Bavaria. II-. Estimate: 10,000 euros

Shortly before his 20th birthday, Carl Theodor in Bavaria was initiated into the Order of the Golden Fleece as the 968th knight by his brother-in-law, Emperor Franz Joseph.

No. 361: Gift box containing two gold medals of 35 ducats each, on the occasion of the wedding of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth in Bavaria on 24 April 1854. From the estate of Max Joseph Duke in Bavaria, father of the bride. Extremely rare. About FDC. Estimate: 40,000 euros

In the 19th century, it was customary to present guests at important festivities with commemorative medals whose weight and material directly reflected their rank and degree of kinship. Künker is pleased to be able to offer two gift boxes from the estate of Duke Carl Theodor in Bavaria, each containing two medals that were distributed as gifts on the occasion of the wedding of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Elisabeth in Bavaria on 24 April 1854. The gift box with the two gold medals was presented to Duke Max in Bavaria, the father of the bride. The gift box with the two silver medals was given to the bride's younger brother, Duke Carl Theodor.

The Estate of Dr. Alexander Eugen Duke of Württemberg (1933-2024)

Alexander Eugen Duke of Württemberg was the fourth child of Albrecht Eugen of Württemberg and his wife Nadejda, daughter of Ferdinand I Tsar of Bulgaria. Alexander Eugen was a trained archivist and had studied art history, archaeology and auxiliary sciences of history. He worked for the Christie's auction house, at the Bavarian State Office for Monument Protection, at the Bavarian National Museum and in the Bavarian Administration of State-Owned Palaces, Gardens and Lakes. He died childless on 18 February 2024. His death marked the end of the male line of the third Silesian branch of the House of Württemberg.

Künker offers historically significant numismatic and phaleristic objects from his estate, as well as some rare books on phaleristics from his specialist library. The material comes from the German Empire and from Bulgaria, the homeland of his mother.

No. 184: Saxony. Order of Maria Anna. 1st class cross in original presentation case. From the Alexander Eugen Duke of Württemberg Collection. Extremely rare. I. Estimate: 5,000 euros

No. 192: Württemberg. Royal Great Order of the Golden Eagle. Jewel of the order. From the Alexander Eugen Duke of Württemberg Collection. Extremely rare. II. Estimate: 5,000 euros

No. 252: Vatican. Pius XI. Medal for the 300-year anniversary of the foundation of the Sacred Congregation "Propaganda Fide", 1922. Very rare. Proof. Estimate: 5,000 euros

This was a personal gift from Pope Pius XI to Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria, as is proven by a card. The Pope himself wrote on it in German: Mit herzlichstem Apostolischem Segen Pius PP. XI. (With the warmest apostolic blessing, Pius PP. XI. XI.) The somewhat damaged cardboard box reads A.S.M. Ferdinando Re dei Bulgari.

The sincerity of Pope Pius XI's blessing is particularly noteworthy given that Prince Ferdinand had been excommunicated by Pope Leo XIII in 1896. The pope had punished Ferdinand for having his son and heir to the throne baptized Orthodox for political reasons. At an unknown later date, his excommunication was lifted by another pope.

Long Service Ribbon Buckles of the German States

The auction will also feature an impressive collection of long-service decorations in the form of ribbon buckles from the German States. Nothing comparable has been seen on the market for decades. The consignor acquired the collection decades ago from the "medal veteran" Jürgen Bielitz, decorations dealer and collector. Several pieces were added to the collection and its catalog is likely to become a new reference work.

No. 4: Anhalt-Dessau. 1st class military service decoration for XX years of service as Non-commissioned officer (Unteroffizier) and in the enlisted ranks (Mannschaft). This specimen is depicted in Nimmergut, NDA 14. Very rare. I-II. Estimate: 800 euros

No. 97: Saxe-Altenburg. Decoration for veterans with the years 1813/1815. Very rare. II. Estimate: 1,000 euros

Orders and Decorations from Various Estates

Impressive estates and special collections should not conceal the fact that Künker's auction 415 also offers a wealth of rare orders and decorations from Germany and all over the world from various possessions. To give you an idea, we present a few rarities.

No. 394: Hesse. Electoral Hessian Wilhelm Order (Wilhelms-Orden). 1st class Commander set. 2 specimens. Very rare. II. Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 442: Palatinate. Order of the Palatine Lion. Cross of the knights of the order. Extremely rare. II. Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 443: Prussia. "Pour le Mérite" order. Order cross. Rare. I-II. Estimate: 10,000 euros

No. 478: Saxony. Royal Military Order of St. Henry (Saxony). Jewel of the grand cross, 4th model. Very rare. II. Estimate: 15,000 euros

No. 512: France. Legion of Honor. Brest star of the Grand Aigle. II. Estimate: 5,000 euros

Please note that this auction is part of Künker's October auction week, which consists of three auction sales.

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